Accra, March 2026 (GNA) A new $2.3 million partnership between the Government of Ghana, the Government of Japan, and the United Nations Children’s Fund is setting out to confront one of the country’s most persistent challenges child labour.
At the heart of the initiative is a clear goal: to protect vulnerable children while addressing the deeper economic and social conditions that continue to push them into labour.
Speaking on the government’s commitment, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that child labour remains a serious national concern, affecting millions of children across the country.
He noted that despite existing laws and policies, poverty, limited access to education, and weak enforcement systems continue to drive children into hazardous work, especially in agriculture and informal sectors.
From the development partners’ side, Osama Makkawi Khogali highlighted the importance of sustained investment in children, noting that protecting them today is essential for Ghana’s long-term development.
He has consistently emphasised that empowering children through education, skills development, and protection systems is key to building a more equitable society.
Also contributing to the partnership efforts is Hiroshi Yoshimoto, representing Japan’s support for child welfare programmes. Japan’s involvement reflects its broader commitment to funding social protection and development initiatives across Africa.
The partnership is designed to go beyond surface-level interventions. It focuses on:
Strengthening child protection systems to identify and support at-risk children
Improving access to education, ensuring children remain in school
Providing economic support to families, reducing financial pressure that leads to child labour
Community awareness campaigns to shift cultural and social norms
This multi-layered approach aligns with Ghana’s national strategy to eliminate child labour and contributes to global efforts under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8.7) which aims to end child labour in all its forms.
Child labour remains widespread in Ghana, particularly in cocoa farming, fishing, and informal work sectors, where children are often exposed to dangerous conditions.
According to national data, millions of children are still engaged in labour, many in hazardous environments that threaten their health, education, and future.
Experts say tackling the issue requires not just policy, but real collaboration between governments, communities, and international partners exactly what this new initiative aims to achieve.
For UNICEF and its partners, this partnership is about more than funding it is about restoring childhood.
It reflects a growing recognition that no child should be forced to trade education for survival.
TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya.
